Sustainability Luxury - Green Carpet Awards, Milan 2018

Guests arrived at Piazza La Scala the iconic centre of Milan to an entrance covered with vivid moss green and pink carpet of woven hummingbirds and passion flowers. Around the great statue of Leonardo Da Vinci a wild garden had being planted framed with a fence made from reclaimed wood. This being the entrance to the second edition of the Green Carpet Awards held on 23rd September, 2018 hosted by Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (National Chamber of Italian Fashion) a non-profit organisation who promotes and coordinates the Italian fashion industry and the training of young designers and Eco Age a specialist sustainability and communications consultancy.

The stunning green carpet was made from Econyl, a company who is famous for making swimwear from abandoned nylon fishing nets. The Creative Director for the event, Hamish Bowles researched and chose the hummingbird motify believing it symbolised ‘industry, adaptability and resilience’. He believed this motif to be all the qualities integral to the concept of sustainability.

For fashion students these awards are the perfect showcase to see the garments made from green technology, new fibres and upcycling creativity. This awards show also respecting the heritage of amazing ateliers and artisans. The glamour was Vintage, Sustainable, Recycle, Upcycled or Green Technology the gowns and suits at this black-tie event were certified by Eco Age with certain requirements. The creativity was astounding. Here is what stepped out on the Green Carpet.

Matilda de Angelis wore a dress made from repurposed Prada samples with an orange and yellow balloon skirt produced in duchesse silk, dyed with GOTS certified dyes and embellished with Swarovski lead-free Advanced Crystals.

Eva Riccobono wore Trussardi made from organic Italian silk and shoes and clutch from Pinatex which is a natural leather alternative made from pineapple leaves. No extra land, water, fertilizers or pesticides are needed for production of Pinatex.

Stefania Spampinato wore a collaboration of last years Green Carpet award designer Tiziano Guardini with Denim Isko. Denim Isko is the only denim mill globally with 25,000 products that have passed life cycle assessments and environmental product declarations. The white silk inserts of Spampinato’s dress were made with ISKO denim kit, a knife edge twill denim made from organic cotton and recycled polyester from PET bottles. Its created with technology that retains its shape and requires less washing.

Oliva Palerno also wore the formal ISKO denim a black to black denim dress using Iznik black denim a dyeing technique for depth and retention of colour along with the same technology that retains the shape of the garment. Her partner Johannes Huebl wore a TODS and Denim Isko collaboration.

Doina Ciobanu wore a creation by Jean-Louis Sabaji, which was a hand-woven straw and raffia lace ruffled mini dress with a sculpted bodice made from palm sheath which was sourced from a town in Lebanon which still retains its craft community and weaved into the dress by the atelier.

Carolyn Murphy wore a beautiful yellow off the shoulder Max Mara dress made from Italian New life which is recycled polyester fabric made from PET bottles.

AWARDS

Gilberto Calzolari won the Franca Sozzani Green Carpet Talent award for the best emerging designer. With a little creativity Calzolari created a dress from used coffee jute bags and Swaroski advanced elements lead-free crystals. The coffee jute bags had been used as water barriers against canal floodwaters in Milan and were found and purchased by Sozzani at Milan’s Navgali vintage markets. Not only did he receive the Chopard statuette, he won a 12-month mentorship with an opportunity to present his designs at Milan Fashion week next February.

The Art of Craftmanship were awarded to the Cobblers of Ferragamo, 24 of the artisans appearing to accept their award alongside their president and CEO, Ferruccio Ferragamo wearing their traditional workroom coats.

Cate Blanchett was so proud to present the Eco Stewardship award to a group of farmers from her native Australia who are genuinely leading the sustainability charge an aspect of the fashion industry that is foundational being the production of merino wool. Matt Dunbabin of Australia’s Bangor Farm spoke in acceptance of the award. “Every day, woolgrowers across the country are caring for their animals and the land in a passionate and sustainable way, ensuring that when you are wearing wool, you are also caring for the environment. Woolgrowers have always known this is the case, and it is fantastic that this has been recognized by the fashion industry.”

Many of the speeches invited guests to challenge their daily practices and as Donatella Versace said “I know that it sounds obvious, but we are running out of time to save our planet,” she said. “If everyone does a little something to contribute, things would improve dramatically.”